Governor Chris Gregoire has just signed a bill that opens store, restaurant and other business restrooms to the public. While many businesses think the bill, which becomes law at the end of July, means they must let everyone off the street to use their bathrooms, that's not the case. The bill states the person requesting the restroom must have a doctor's note explaining that he or she has a health condition that requires them to have quick access to a bathroom. A business must also have at least three employees working at the time and must make sure the request does not post a security risk.
Wow... the fact that someone in our legislature actually came up with this bill when they had many more things to deal with that are much more important really kinda ticks me off, I understand needing a bathroom but this is just a pointless waste of taxpayers time and money that could have been spent doing something else.
It was actually brought up by the people. As a matter of fact, one of the guys from Pearl Jam who has a chronic condition was a big pusher for this bill. I bet its pretty important to people who have a disability and need immediate bathroom access. Their quality of life would be very much more diminished if they had to constantly worry about messing up their clothes when they went out in public. A little empathy goes a long way. What is really sad is that there was a need for the bill in the first place actually.
I am wondering, while I am facing what, for me, is a medical emergency, will I have to wait for the store manager to read over my "note" from the doctor? I might suggest that an ID card, notation on the driver's license, or some other QUICKER way to ID Crohn's patients and other's with urgency issues, might be simpler.
And Merg . . . for someone with Crohn's this is like being let out of a cage. But your attitude is just typical of people who have never had health issues that affected their moblity or function in a world that is rather intolerant to those with disabilities. I have heard many people declare how downtown Seattle has insufficient restroom facilities . . . just try to imagine a day during a Crohn's flare-up, when a trip to the restroom every hour or half hour is not uncommon!
Gena makes a great point too in that it's pretty sad that we need a law to allow people to use a restroom. As a person with severe bladder issues, I think this is a good idea. However, I don't see carrying a dr note around to be too viable, I also like the idea of some sort of ID card or the like that is fast and simple. Now if they can work something for small kids that would be great, you'd be amazed at how many places will say no to a child using their bathroom.
Merg.....Have you no empathy!!?? I really hope you get a mild case of food poisoning from a skanky restaurant and crap your pants on a downtown street.
ps You're gonna get old someday too.
Merg.....Have you no empathy!!?? I really hope you get a mild case of food poisoning from a skanky restaurant and crap your pants on a downtown street.
ps You're gonna get old someday too.
I work in retail, and the reason we do not like
letting the public use our restrooms are the syringes and other drug paraphernalia left in there. The other disgusting messes are from kids who are not supervised by parents or immature older ones. If someone has a legitimate need I have no problem, but these days I cannot tell which person is the drug addict and which is the one with Crone's Disease.